Air Canada offers Canadair Regional Jet service throughout Atlantic Canada. Despite being a regional jet, they still offer a small business class product. I would get the opportunity to test out their business class product on my short flight to the nations’ capital today.

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Review: Air Canada Business Class, CRJ 900, Halifax Stanfield International Airport – Ottawa International Airport

As in on my Air Canada Business Class Ottawa – Halifax flight on the way out, I used Air Canada E-Upgrades courtesy of Elite Status to upgrade this flight from an economy fare. The E-Upgrades expire every year and I had little use for them otherwise.

After spending time at the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Halifax, I eventually headed down to the concourse to look for my departing flight. It was a pretty serene experience, unlike the crowds you can experience at American or other larger airports. Today’s CRJ was parked at the gate, a tiny aircraft, in its spacious surroundings.

Air Canada 
AC 8637 – Business Class (R)
YHZ – YOW (Halifax Stanfield International Airport – Ottawa Cartier International Airport)
Nov 10, 2019
3:40 PM – 4:31 PM (scheduled)
Booked: CRJ-900
Flown: CRJ-900

They were oversold today and were offering flight bumps at the gate in the amount of $600 for travel the next day. I was tempted there for a minute but I had arranged date night in Ottawa with MrsWT73 tonight who was to be in town on business so I passed.

On Board Air Canada Short Haul Business Class:

Eventually getting on board, the seat was the same as on the way out. The configuration in Air Canada Business Class on the Canadair Regional Jet is a 1 – 2 configuration in Business Class.

Pre – Departure Services:

There was water on the seat which served as the de-facto pre-departure beverage.

The climb out was over the now familiar rural terrain; with not a building or other occupation for miles around.

The Meal: A Light Lunch

Today’s lunch offer was a couscous wrap with a gin and tonic. Unfortunately, I had apathetic crews today that seemed to be just going through the motions. The food was dropped off and they pretty much disappeared for the rest of the flight; a formidable challenge on such a small aircraft as a CRJ.

I passed by the flight time by watching the scenery out of the window and following along on the moving flight map.

It was a short flight today, eventually landing in rainy Ottawa. As you can see, the arrival hall was very busy, like everywhere else so far on this trip (laughing).

I would transfer over to the Westin Ottawa for a brief stay on my visit to the nation’s capital.

Air Canada Short Haul Business Class summary:

The business class service on these narrow body jets are better than sitting in the back but not all by much. I suppose if you add the checked bags, priority boarding and lounge access it represents a bit better value than being cramped in the tail of the plane, but I wouldn’t expect too much more than that.

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If you’ve flown Air Canada’s Canadair Regional Jets, how do you find the travel experience?

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